Monthly Archives: July 2012

Lesson 6: Down

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Training method:  Treat

The sign for “down” is going to be just like the sign for “sit”, but instead of lifting your hand up, you will lower it down.

Start with your dog in a sitting position.  Hold a treat between your thumb and index finger, and try to keep your palm as flat as possible.  Hold your hand above the dog’s head, and slowly lower your hand, palm facing down, to the ground.  Your pup should follow the scent and lower himself into position.  Make sure your hand is close enough to the dog’s body that he doesn’t need to move forward to reach the treat.  If he doesn’t follow right away, leave your hand lowered for a minute.  He will probably sniff and paw at your hand, but will eventually lower himself to the ground to try to get to the treat.  When he does, reward him immediately with the treat and the “good dog” sign.  If he stands up, redirect him into the sitting position and try again.

Here is a little video of my former foster puppy, Abe, mastering the “down” sign.  You will see that we are no longer using a treat as a lure, but he is following the sign.  He first tries to paw at my hand, but then remembers his cue and gets his reward!  Good job, Abe!

Available for Adoption- little Nani!

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Say hello to little Nani! Her name is pronounced nah-nee and it means “pretty” in Hawaiian.  I think it goes perfectly with her pretty heart-shaped nose!  This little puppy is DEAF and is ready to be adopted!

Nani is almost 5 months old and has already had a rough start in life.  She has been in 6 different homes to date (through no fault of her own), was adopted and returned once due to her deafness, and was starved and neglected in her last home.  She is now recuperating in foster care and is in need of a stable, permanent home where she will be cared for and loved forever.   She is a tiny girl at only about 25 lbs. and looks like a PBT mix of some kind.  The vet said she didn’t think Nani would get much bigger, so she’s a petite pocket pittie!

Despite what she’s been through, Nani is a cheerful and playful puppy!  She loves to play with her foster brother and loves to meet new people and pets.  She gives kisses to everyone she meets and loves to chase the ball and chew on treats!  She would do well in a home with another active dog to show her the ropes OR as an only dog as well– she would love to have all the attention to herself!  She has shown a friendly interest in my cat and would love to play with her (and occasionally chases her), so a home with a dog-savvy cat would be fine.

She likes to be held like a baby before bedtime and will put her little head on your shoulder for a cuddle.  This seems to help settle her down before bed.  She is crate trained, but she takes comfort in being able to see me, so I keep her crate within sight of my bedroom.

She is a total sweetie pie and is learning fast!  She now knows to sit nice for her food and she knows the signs for sit, down, and high-five.  She is very treat motivated and will do great with continued training.  If you are looking for a young, sweet, playful little puppy, then Nani is your girl!  Check out her videos below.

Nani is up to date on her puppy shots and is spayed.

Please contact me, Anne Murphy, at murphyanne7@gmail.com for more information about adopting Nani!  I am her foster mom and can answer any questions you may have about her or the adoption process.  She is currently in the Cleveland, Ohio area, but transport can be arranged for non-local homes.